Page 45 - French Polynesia

n 1766 the Royal Society engaged Cook that James Cook made first contact with an search for the hypothetical Terra Australis.

I to travel to the Pacific Ocean to observe aboriginal tribe known as the Gweagal. Cook commanded HMS Resolution on this

and record the transit of Venus across the A fter his departure from Botany Bay he voyage, while Tobias Furneaux commanded
Sun. Cook, at the age of 39, was promoted continued northwards. On 11 June a its companion ship, HMS Adventure. Cook’s
to lieutenant and named as commander of expedition circumnavigated the globe at

the expedition. The expedition sailed from mishap occurred when the Endeavour ran extreme southern latitude, becoming one

England on 26 August 1768, rounded Cape aground on a shoal of the Great Barrier of the first to cross the Antarctic Circle (17

Horn and continued westward across the Reef, and then “nursed into a river mouth January 1773).

Pacific to arrive at Tahiti on 13 April 1769, on 18 June 1770”. The ship was badly dam- C ook almost encountered the mainland
where the observations of the Venus Transit aged and his voyage was delayed almost of Antarctica, but turned towards Tahiti
were made. Once the observations were seven weeks while repairs were carried out

completed, Cook opened the sealed orders on the beach (near the docks of modern to resupply his ship. He then resumed his

which were additional instructions from the Cooktown, Queensland, at the mouth of the southward course in a second fruitless at-

Admiralty for the second part of his voyage: Endeavour River). The voyage then contin- tempt to find the supposed continent. On

to search the south Pacific for signs of the ued, sailing through Torres Strait and on 22 this leg of the voyage he brought a young

postulated rich southern continent of Terra August Cook landed on Possession Island, Tahitian named Omai, who proved to be

Australis. Cook sailed to New Zealand and where he claimed the entire coastline that somewhat less knowledgeable about the

mapped the complete coastline, making he had just explored as British territory. Pacific than Tupaia had been on the first

only some minor errors. He then voyaged Cook’s journals were published upon his voyage. On his return voyage to New Zea-

west, reaching the south-eastern coast of return, and he became something of a hero land in 1774, Cook landed at the Friendly

Australia on 19 April 1770, and in doing so among the scientific community. Islands, Easter Island, Norfolk Island, New

his expedition became the first recorded S hortly after his return from the first Caledonia, and Vanuatu. Before returning
Europeans to have encountered its eastern voyage, Cook was promoted in August to England, Cook made a final sweep across
coastline. Cook and crew made their first the South Atlantic from Cape Horn and

landfall on the mainland of the continent at 1771, to the rank of commander. In 1772 surveyed, mapped and took possession for

a place now known as Botany Bay. It is here the Royal Society commissioned him to Britain of South Georgia.